Camera

Oh where... is my camera? Oh where... is my camera? Oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where... is my camera?

You know, the one with the baking, and gardening, and camping/anniversary, and cat photos.... yeah that one. Haven't seen it eh? Well thanks for looking.

I hate posting without photos... which is funny, 'cause I hate taking photos.

100th Post: back to the foundation

For a blog called "While the Tea is Steeping", I sure don't post a lot about tea do I?
Which is fine, since the point of the blog is what I do with my life while fueled on tea, not the tea itself. Still, with 100 posts behind me you would think that I would have talked about tea a little more. So instead of the typical 100 random things about me for my 100th post, here are some thinks about my tea addiction.

My tea containment devices also known as tea pots.

Okay so the big plain white one is actually a coffee pot, but my father used it for tea before me and so I am using it now!
The Royal Albert Country Rose set was a bridal shower gift from my mother-in-law (the sliver tea leaf spoon was a gift from my sister).
The one cup Brown Betty I stole from my mother when I moved out (if you actually want it back let me know).
The cast iron "green tea" tea pot was the last purchase we made on our honeymoon in San Fransisco.
The stacking tea pot and cup was a parting gift from my co-workers in Seattle, and is currently the tea pot I use the most.

---

You brew beer or...

I'm supposed to minimize my caffeine intake to control my acid reflux... so I have been trying to get into red tea. The Green Ballonoff tea tin is Adagio Rooibos Berry, it makes a good ice tea while the Republic Red tea is good hot or cold.
My favorite black tea is Murchies Irish Breakfast followed by their Empress Afternoon, but
Red Rose is my classic fall back (and yes I keep the figurines). Out of the huge amount of Murchies Tea Victoria bought me for my birthday I have two boxes of some of their green tea left.
There are some Lemon and Chamomile Teas purchased on the way back from women's weekend with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
In the bag with the bow is some tea my mother-in-laws purchased for me in France (just a bit left).
The Republic Ginger Peach is Paul's favorite tea, so what a great move it was by my co-workers to give me Republic Green Ginger Peach to go with my parting teacup set.
On a lark I tried the Traditional Medicinals Female Toner to aid in Endometriosis flares, it works but I find the strait Traditional Medicinals Raspberry Leaf tea to be more effective.
I'm not even going to get started with the ziplock bag of random teabags in the back (Stash Tea , Holidays, no more need to be said though there's more in there than that).

---

What tea drinking device is missing from this picture?

A "green tea" teacup, but they are in the picture of the teapots because I think of them as an extension of the pot its self.
The large hand thrown clay mug was an early creation of my mother's, it's my comfort mug (or I'm working on a large project and don't want to stop in five minute to refill my cup mug).
The travel mug was also a gift from my mother.
I found the Library mug at the thrift store, my best friend Hillary was nice enough to buy it for me as I was completely broke at the time. By the way, those books in the handle spin!
The purple cup with infuser was Christmas gift from my husband. The cup came with a matching lid, but like my husbands red cup the lid has long since shattered :-(
I love ivy, just love it! So I had to buy this cup back when I was first starting my china teacup collection via ebay. It was over this cup that I got into my first heated bidding war.

---

...Whistle...

Paul bought me the blue tea kettle several Christmases ago.
The Ballonoff kettle was left on the burner so we can't use it to boil water, but Jackie seems to like it.
The Tea cozy was a Christmas gift from my parents, and it actually fits my two monster size teapots!

---

Bit wait... it's like 106 degrees in Phoenix....

If I have enough time before leaving for work I'll make a hot cup of tea to take with me to my over air conditioned office, but other than that hot tea is currently left as a serious pick-me-up or "ack, must finish project today!" drive. Other wise we're drinking Lipton Ice Tea (non sweetened thank you very much) daily with the occasional Arizona Ice Tea as a treat.

Favorite Black Tea?
Murchies Irish Breakfast
How do you take it?
With a good amount of milk
(or considerably less Mocha Mix since I'm not supposed to do the dairy thing)
Favorite Herbal Tea?
Peppermint Tea, strong stuff but I'm known to suck on the peppermint teabags when I'm finished with the tea so...
Favorite Red Tea?
Adagio Rooibos - it tastes so much like Twinings Orange Peko that with a little milk I can pretend it's caffinated.
Favorite Green Tea?
Revolution Green Tea
Favorite post yoga/meditation tea?
Yogi Ginger tea, and I can meditate over the sayings on the tea bag stub.
Most likely to make tea?
Red Rose Tea
(does anyone want the pony figurine? I have three and am willing to trade)
Currently drinking?
an "Arizona Von"
(Pineapple/Orange/Banana juice, ice tea, tonic, and gin - there's tea in it)

So there, as you can see the title of my blog is not a fake - my life really is about what I'm doing while waiting for my pot of tea to steep, that's a given so the blog is everything else.

Cheers!

Make your sandwhich and eat it too

I was never a big one for sandwiches; given the choice between a sandwich and left overs I would go for the left overs every time. Then I worked at Solly's (front staff: barista, till, and sandwich maker - not a baker), and found that actually I do like sandwiches, I'm just very picky; I want my sandwich on a bagel, with tomatoes and bean sprouts at least.

I have been doing a lot of baking since we moved to Arizona.
In addition to my "daily cookies" (I'll post the recipie when it's been perfected) and famous chocolate banana muffins, I tried my hand at making some bread.

Paul and I are used to bread outlets, and there are some here in Phoenix, just no where near our house. Neither of us can really fathom the price of bread from the grocery store, so I tried my hand at making some white bread (we were out of whole-wheat at the time of the move, and we haven't replaced it yet). It was a little over cooked, but good. Not bad at all for my first attempt at a yeast bread.

Then last week I found myself in Einstein Bros. Bagels while waiting for a ride, so I picked up a dozen of their "everything" bagels (good, but Solly's Mish-Mash has more on it, and thus as an everything bagel is better). That took care of last week's lunches and snacks, now what to do this week? We can't really afford to buy bagels every week, particularly as Einstein Bros. doesn' t offer a "buy a dozen for the price of a half dozen" day like Solly's (my loyalties are in my home town, what can I say?). Further more, Einstein Bros. ins't exactly close to my house, I just happend to be in the area that day.

... Well, theoreticaly if I have the touch to make loavs of bread I should be able to make bagles right?

Apparently so.

Katharyn's home made mish-mash bagles
(garlic, onion, poppy seed, sesame seed, and rock salt)
Not too chewy, or too hard
Some are a little small, but that's just a mater of practice...
The toppings didn't stay on as well as I would have liked, but I suspect if I keep making them every week I'll figure out the trick to that.
Once we replace the whole wheat flour, I'll make some whole-wheat mish-mash (which I always ment to have spechal orderd through Solly's but never got around to it).

I'm already in the kitchen most of Sunday baking cookies, cutting up carrot sticks, making muffins, etc... I might as well add bagels to the list and actually enjoy my sandwhich rather than forcing myself to eat it for the sustinance. Now I just need to start growing bean sprouts (I know it's easy, I just need to do it).

I would like to say thank you to Kendra at Ten Minutes to Digest; reading her blog has gotten me to stop stressing about trying new things in the kitchen - I have always tried new recipies, but it used to be stressful, and now it's fun (most of the time anyway).

If you are in Vancouver, seriously, go to Solly's! That was on my list of things to do before we left the NorthWest (along with swimming at Jericho), and unfortunately I just couldn' t find the time to get into Vancouver proper. I actually dream about Solly's once or twice a year (seriously, and yes I know I'm werid); I dream that we are visiting in Vancouver, and go to have lunch, only to find that they are really under staffed so I end up pitching in behind the counter, noshing the whole time. - Think I might miss the food a little? Maybe I should try my baking hand at a few more things I used to get there...

Do you have a food item that you always used to buy, but now you make?

-Katie

Sock and Muffin Hiatus?

Have you ever made muffins, and actually come out with the number of muffins estimated by the recipe?

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins from
Land O Lakes Treasury of Country Heritage Meals & Menus

From their count of 1 1/2 dozen, I'm missing six muffins. I have NEVER managed to get as many muffins out of a recipe as approximated by the recipe's authors, NEVER! Where do they go? Do stocks and muffins have a secret hiatus spot? Do the cats steel them and place them behind the couch?

Do you manage to get the estimated number of muffins from a recipe? How? If I was over filling I would understand, but I'm really not!

YAY!

I got the job!!! No more temping for me!

That said Cure Staffing is a wonderful company and I will turn to them happily if my situation should change!

yes!

upgrade

Hillary....

When you move to Texas after Christmas you can pick up the side board that matches the table and chairs we gave you; we're ready to part ways with it.

fingers crossed

I had a job interview that went really well (I think). Fingers crossed please!

Sushi Land

So I found a cute place here in Phoenix, and decided that I must post about it... but wait... I still haven't posted about the last place that I had that reaction too...

...Better late than never...

If you're in Tukwila WA and are in the mood for conveyor belt Sushi, Hillary and I highly recommend Sushi Land. Or, if you are in the Tukwila area and are in need of a cheep meal, Hillary and I highly recommend Sushi Land. Or if you are in the Tukwila area and are looking for fast food, but can't stand the thought of a drive through, Hillary and I highly recommend Sushi Land.

Found during one of our Monday second hand shopping trips, Hillary and I became Sushi Land regulars (harad every time we walked through the door by the Hispanic Sous Chef, as if to say "hey it's my white girls"). Hint number one, this is were the Asian people go for sushi (in Vancouver B.C. that wouldn't mean much but in Seattle, that says something).

Sometimes it can take a bit to be seated or get your drink refilled, but once seated just let the Sushi chefs know you need something and they're more than happy to heckle the waiting staff for you. The green tea is refreshing, and needed given the chili temperature of the room (common with conveyor belt sushi, keeps the food fresh). In addition to the fried tofu, fried calamari, eclairs, salted soybeans, oysters, and ten different types of sushi circling the room, you can order anything you don't see, and there are some items such as octopus balls which are by order only (and when the chefs do get personal order, they always make a few extra that get put on the belt). Plates range between $1.50 and $5.00, most coming in at $2.00 or $2.50. Their green tea ice cream is wonderful, and their bean curd ice cream was very refreshing (a new favorite on my list - yay for trying new things). Hillary and I frequently came out of there for under $8.00 feeling quite full!

I hear one person say she didn't like Sushi Land because they didn't make their sushi fresh. The store in Tukwila does, though they do usually make an extra few rolls so that if they get busy they can supplement the line.

There are better places to go for sushi, but for conveyor belt sushi and/or sushi that doesn't break the bank, Sushi Land is the place to go!

Check it out if you're in Seattle or Oregon

Vincent Damon Furnier

Alice Cooper has his own Radio Show? HE'S HAD HIS OWN RADIO SHOW FOR FIVE YEARS? How have I not known this?

(All ready a fan of his music, Alice Cooper became my "if you could have lunch with any famous person alive who would it be?" person, since six years ago I found out our fathers are in the same profession/calling. I have to give props to a man who is more of a beloved black sheep, than I).

This totally makes my week!

Work

Greeting!

I'm working as a temp medical receptionist all week, and then three days a week indefinitely. 3 days a week isn't ultimately going to be enough to bring home the bacon, but it'll at least bring home the bread for a while.

That said, I haven't been working for over a month - so I'm finding myself rather exhausted this week. I had just gotten out of the habit of getting up at 6... I know, I know, it's helpful to get up early; here in Phoenix six is a lovely time, lightly sunny but still cool and smelling of the evening - but even so I'm naturally nocturnal.

The other night I had a moment of bliss driving to pick my husband up from school.

The cool eight O'clock evening air, rolling in threw the down windows of my SUV, "Redneck Woman" playing on the radio, and the smell of drying fields and fresh high grade manure. Oh it felt good, it also felt like I should be driving a pick up truck not a SUV...

Are you finding peaceful moments this spring?

For Earth Day, lets play a game

Guess this tree

Whitethorn Acacia (Acacia constricta)
(I think)

There's plenty of Green

And I was worried about going through green withdraw - bah!

In my backyard you have Palm Tree One & Palm Tree Two

A smaller palm tree

and a baby palm tree!

And some sort of bush with little pink flowers (just starting to bloom)

The same type of bush is in the front

With a lovley large tree

And then there is the greenery I brought with me.

We were worried that my African Violet Jackie wouldn't take well to the trip, while she did lose a few leaves she's rather enjoying herself.

We never expected that Spider plant John would have a hard time, but in addition to several broken leaves, he's showing signs of over heating (odd as it's another plant from South Africa) limp light coloured leaves, but he's not taking in any water and his leaves have darkened since we put him outside. I'm wondering if his root ball has gotten too big for the pot, and so he can't take in any more water? Any thoughts? Dad?

Yep, that's right - if you give me a plant, I will name it after you.

Spring here is lovely, there are plants in bloom everywhere we turn.
What is spring like in your neck of the woods?

School Cuts

Brave is the man who lets his farsighted dyslexic wife cut his hair!

The Big Move

As I (erm, actually Paul) finally found the USB cord for my camera I can start posting again. What, there are no photo's in the post? Yeah I know, but I hate posting when putting up photos isn't an option.

The move from Seattle to Phoenix was "successful", in that we (Paul, I, and the cats) and our stuff (for the most part) are in a house in Phoenix. That said...

We left three days later than planned. No one particular reason why and most smaller reasons are hard to describe; many things just didn't come together in a timely manner. One of the more notable reasons for the late departure (the third day rather than only leaving two days late) was that with only five boxes left to store, Paul fell off of the moving truck and ended up with a pressure cut down his shin that required 13 stitches (5 internal, and there really should have been one more external); thus we spent much of that second day at St. Francis's ER in Federal Way.

Paul's father, who showed up the evening of the second night - was wonderful. He managed to organize and direct everyone, without making it seem like he was trying to take over or in away make it feel like he had final call (aka without stepping on our toes). A big thank you to my father-in-law, I truly don't know what we would have done without you!

The roommates, and a few other friends were very helpful - not only did they help us pack and load the truck but Sean, Jeff, Don, and Brian did the post move dump run and cleaning. Hillary, was helping us, all the while moving her stuff as well. THANK YOU!

So on Sunday afternoon, instead of early Thursday morning we finally set out - both of Paul's parents (his mother with a cold) Paul, Hillary, the cats, and I. Paul (with the PA's permission) was driving the 22ft moving truck with the Glaunt on a trailer behind, Paul's father was driving the Civic, Hillary and I traded off with my Santa Fe which also had the cats, while Paul's mother, Hillary, and I traded off keeping Paul and Albert awake and entertained.

The cats had food, water, and a litter box in the back seat of the Santa Fe. They ate and drank a little, but never used the litter box until the hotel. They would complain for the first five minutes of the drive (first day "what are we doing?" the second and third day "no not again!") but otherwise they just sat out the trip, pouting.

The driving it's self was uneventful - which was my theory when all of the little things started to go wrong with the packing process "we're having a really hard time with the packing process so everything will go smoothly on the road, knock on wood."

Having dinner the first night, we got the new that Paul's youngest sister has been accepted to John Hopkins University! GO Rosie!

We spent the first night at the base of Grands Pass Oregon. Gave up on Paul's bandage staying the place and used gause and an Ace Bandage instead.

The second day Paul's mother was feeling worse. We drove just shy of LA. In the morning, the Civic's tire was flat... (one of the things that kept us late was the Civic needing two new wheels because the lug-nuts weren't put on properly and it lost them while driving), but that didn't slow us down for too too long.

Driving through LA was not as bad as I thought it would be. As my dad put it "not knowing where you exist is, is a bit of problem - but the actual freeway is just freeway. If you can handle the freeway through Seattle, the freeway through LA isn't much different." Hillary did wake up to me swearing; the exit in 200 yards is the one we need "Dren, Dren, Dren! - am I clear?" ('cause I knew I wasn't but was going to have to force the issue - the Santa Fe was too packed to see out the rear), but over all it wasn't that bad.

I got to spend five minutes on the streets of LA. While everyone else gassed up (both the vehicles and the cooler) I and my girly figure got to walk across the way and buy another lug-nut for the Civic, in the automotive parts store that just happened to be there for our convince. Nothing like playing the Innocent wife on an random tasks run role, the man behind the counter was surprised when I knew both the make and the year of the car it was for.

We had an appointment to keep with the rental agent, and the Mercedes that we shipped point to point arrived early. So shortly after Palm Springs (while passing I realized, hey my uncle lives here - this really isn't that far from Phoenix - must arrange a dinner date) Hillary and I broke off from the Caravan and blazed the road to the house.

We got there just as the Mercedes did. Checked out the area a bit; the Caravan pulled in five minutes before the rental agent. About half an hour after we signed all of the rental paperwork, Paul, his father, and Hillary started unpacking the truck - while I took Paul's mother to the ER with her URI and Sinus infection.

The next day, after a bit of unpacking we headed out for lunch and to drop Hillary off at the airport. Paul and Hillary in the Civic, with the in-laws and myself in the Santa Fe. I manged to not his my husbands car (this time) when the transmission died one of those deaths you only hear about. We knew the transmission was probably on it's way out, but Paul though he'd get another six months out of the thing before it would really start to be a problem, at least three months... it didn't even die off, it just died.

We managed to get the Civic to the side of the road, had lunch, dropped Hillary off at the airport, came home and unpack some more. The next day we managed to unpack the truck including the piano and pump organ, and get AAA to bring Civic to the drive way.

Paul's parents took Sunday to sight see while Paul and I took it to unpack and take apart the Civic's transmission. On Monday the in laws went home.

Because of Paul's leg, Paul put off school until the next start date which is this upcoming Monday. I am so very very thankful for this. I just can't imagine trying to get settled here with Paul gone most of the day.

We are both looking for work, Paul very part time - me, what ever I can get but ultimately full time. I have started with two temp agencies: Cure Staffing (which despite their website now also deal with medical/insurance receptionist and the Phoenix area) and Apple One.

Everyone here is very nice, Paul has spoken to the neighbors more here than the sum of any discussions with our neighbors in Seattle. The one exception to that was church on Easter Sunday... but that's another post.

It took a week and a day for Paul and I to acclimatize. 72 degrees is rather chilly here...

The crickets in the evening remind me of spending the summer with my grandmother in Wisconsin, while the ice cream truck bells followed by a children's chorus of "mom, mom, mom" remind me of being a little girl in Surry B.C.

We're doing well, so see it was "successful"... eventually.

P.S. A big thank you to Penske, they beat U-Halls prices hands down.

Arizona Sing-a-long

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip
That started from Seattle port
The truck's trailer in grip.

The lead was a mighty driving man,
His father brave and sure.
Five passengers drove out that day
For a three day long tour, a three day long tour.

The driving man fell off the truck,
And the Civic's tire was tossed,
If not for the courage of devoted friends
The move would be lost, the move would be lost.

The cars parked ground on the cracked pavement of Glendale border
With Katharyn
The Paul-Man too,
The father'n-law and his wife,
The Hillary
Cats Lucy and Kalib too,
Here in Arizona.


So this is the tale of A caravan,
That left three days late,
Strait threw we drove to the AZ
for a rental signing date.

The Hillary had good humor,
She took things at her best,
'Cause the delay she had to leave,
As we landed at the nest.

Paul's mom was feeling mighty sick,
Her cough was worse than mine,
Spent the first night in the ER,
Don't worry now she's fine.

Now on our own without the friends,
Without a family smile,
We'll have to make it on our own,
Here in "Arizona."

Arizona

We're here
We busy
Will post soon

packing

Thank you for your concern;

Don’t worry I’m find – just very, very busy. We leave for Arizona on the 25th.

Wish us luck!

-Katie

Um, Mother nature this is Seattle...

and in case you haven't noticed, it's February 26th... just saying...

Ce va? Ce va.

Well I was planning on posting about how life was all falling together, which it is; the house is clean, the garden tidied, we have hot water again, things are getting packed and otherwise checked off the pre move to do list, and even my nails are long (unbitten)… then I woke up this morning with a cold…

I don’t feel like posting about how everything is falling together (though even with the cold that still stands true).

One - One fun Quiz, mwah ha ha

Which Sesame Street Character Are You?

I'm Count von Count
Count has a natural thirst for numbers. He's romantic and mysetrious; also Shakespearean in approach. He has a distinguished laugh and he loves to count everything. He counts with his fingers. He loves classic clothes and sweeping. He doesn't have much of an ego, so he usually counts for himself.

Sorry about the lack of posts; I have been packing, and cleaning, and looking for houses, and applying for jobs... Only 33 days to the Arizona move!

Chronicals of Prydian

Book Review:
Title: Chronical of Prydian
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Bookmarks: 4/5

A coming of age tale in an Ancient Nordic Magical setting; Assistant Pig Keeper Taran, along with Princess Eilonwey, animal man Gurgi , and King/want’a-be Bard Fflewddur Flam struggle for the sake of all that is good in a world facing evil domination.

These books are heavy laden with Nordic Mythology, and such show a high resemblance to The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Those of you who found the lack of female strength in the Lord of the Rings frustrating, will prefer the Prydain Series (stronger, yet also balanced so as not to be entirely unbelievable).

I read the series as recommended by my husband. While The book of three was enjoyable, I didn’t overly care for the story or its characters. I found the names to be a bit of hang up, distracting me from actually getting attached to said people. I only read The Black Cauldron at my husbands insistence, and I’m glad I did; I couldn’t tell you what changed, but suddenly I cared about these characters and their outcome. Book three, The Castle of Llyr, had me hooked with it’s depending romance story lines; Taran Wanderer is a beautiful coming of age tale I think everyone should read, while The High King strongly resembles the feel of Tolkien's Return of the King through not fault of it’s own but that of their shared Mythology.

An easy read, and a great intro to Fantasy series.

View All of my Book Reviews

Craft Everything 2008 Update

Since we spoke last I have…

Finished Hillary’s snake skin scarf, now she can accessories with her pet corn snake
Knitted the Epiphany scarf for the eldest member at St.Columba's
And I finally (after three years of making them for other people) made a family “Christmas” Tree for my family (my parents each have a set, Paul’s parents have a set, my sister has a set, my grandmother has a set…), just in time to pack them up with the rest of the Christmas decorations.

The family “Christmas” Tree is a set of crocheted snowflakes (Glittering Snowflakes: In Thread Crochet by Jo Ann Maxwell); each family member has their name on a snowflake, each branch of the family has a different snowflake pattern (my family currently consists of only the one branch, but when we have children each of them will get their own pattern). I blocked the snowflakes in white glue (‘cause I don’t care to starch them yearly) and wrote the names out with glitter fabric puff paint on wax paper first, and then glued the dry names to the snowflake.

Not too shabby!
Do you have any holiday crafts that you’re just finishing up?

-Katie

P.S. 49 days tell the Arizona move

The but bones connected to the neck bone

At Women's Weekend two weeks ago, a massage therapist who knew about my sudden Vertigo touched my neck and commented “um, ever had whiplash? ‘Cause that’s what this is!”. I did have a whiplash/sprained neck issue four years ago… and the issues are very reminiscent of that time

…Great…

We looked at my posture… now I have been doing yoga for YEARS, under three different teachers as well as a home practice… and seen two different Chiropractors…. you’d think that one of us would have noticed that I don’t tuck my tailbone in properly! (Damn you extra vertebra!)

I stick my tailbone out, and over arch my upper back to achieve what looks likes good posture. This tenses my shoulder and only use the top part of my arm for movement which tenses my neck – when you add that I carry stress in my neck (and who isn’t stressed while trying to plan a move across three States) on top of the injury history, you have a recurring whiplash injury!

…Okay…

So these past two weeks I have been focusing on “tuck the tailbone in/push the pelvis up; move your shoulder blades down and in, not just ‘back’; think calm neck; be more active and less passive aggressive about my home yoga practice” etc.

I was surprised when I found my strait posture; I felt like I was leaning so far back that I would tip over, but that's just my familiarity with a slight slouch. I can feel that my back, sides of my torso, and abdominal wall have gained strength over these past two weeks from holding my body correctly, and thus using the muscles correctly.

It’s been a constant battle to get my neck to relax. I have never realized how much I tense my neck. Every movement, every intense thought I stress my neck. I have to go about my day and think “calm neck, calm shoulder” and breath into my neck to get everything to relax. That said, slowly I’m caring less stress in my body, and guess what? I don’t seem to be as angry with the world as I’ve been of late.

I'm not surprise this has helped the vertigo (in fact I was almost done with the vertigo until I moved in a stupid way on Sunday and re tweaked my neck, but even now this is a minor set back, a reminder of my fragility, not a full step back by any means). There have however been a few surprises.

Singing… I thought I understood how to hold my abdominal muscles in while I sang, apparently not. With my improved posture I’m experiencing a drastic increase in air capacity & control as well as range.

Yoga… wow… just, wow. Every pose is a little different, each one more rewarding, particularly Downward Dog and Cobra. I have been clenching my flank when I should be tucking my tailbone and pelvis forward. With my shoulder blades down instead of over extended back I find the upper body movements are far more balanced.

So here I am, continuing work with my posture and relaxing my muscles.

How do you carry stress in your body?

-Katie

P.S. 50 days to Arizona Move!

Second Hand Tuesdays

Red

Not Red

Five shirts from Value Village at $0.99 each + Two shirts from GoodWill at 1.29 each = awesome wardrobe for Arizona!

A few more bottom pieces and one or two more non-red t-shirts and I'll be good to go. Which is good, as there are only 51 days tell the move!

What scores did you find at the Second Hand Monday Sales?

It's not that I'm lazy

It's that it's Nap Time!

My mother would tell you that I'm naturally an Owl (oh yes) but I've been functioning lately as a Lark. What's your sleep cycle?

Craft Everything 2009

What’s your crafting supply stash look like? Do you buy all you need for a project, finish the project and then move on to the next one? Or do you do you have half a dozen half finished projects, random supplies that you didn’t buy with intent, and supplies you have projects for but haven’t gotten to taking over your space?

We have the crafting dresser that I share with some of the roommates (as it’s not mine I’ll need to come up with a new system in Phoenix) :I have one drawer for fabric and batting, one for the bulk of the yarn supply, and one for the small bits of left over yarn, embroidery thread, and random supply’s. My great grandfather’s roll top desk has one drawer of thread and ribbon, a cubby of glitter puff paint, craft foam mixed in with decorative pieces of paper. If a craft supply isn’t were it’s supposed to be, just watch the desk – it’ll usually show up there, in fact there are bags around the desk with the soul purpose of the collecting wandering yarn. Under our side table (which is actually a card table) lays the dreaded mending pile. Not only do we have clothing that needs mending or alterations, but items that are waiting to be butchered for their fabric and made into something else. Not to mention the tuque awaiting earflap and a pom-pom, the dressing gown with it’s broken circular needle, the wedding scraps awaiting pictures frames… We have all this and I’m move across three states in two months? Right…

And so, following the lead of a bosom friend Michele with her Sugar Bowl House, I’m joining campaign

CRAFT EVERYTHING 2009

For me, the focus is on finishing the unfinished projects and minimizing the mending pile, but muting the random stash is always a good thing (particularly when you have to pack said stash!)

Let’s hear it for follow through! Yeah!

Camp Huston

The 2009 Annual Women’s Getaway Weekend at Camp Huston Episcopal Conference Center (MLK weekend)

A warm bed, a fire place, a warm shower, three delicious hot meals (prepared by someone else), a constant supply of hot coffee, tea and apple cider, all in a beautiful forest complete with a river neighbor and mountain view. Talk about relaxing!

There’s a room of quilters, sewing machines, irons, and fabric, while across the way we have the knitters, crocheters, book readers, scrap bookers, scabbed players, jewlery makers, and painters. Further down you’ll find the occasional movie, though you might miss the plot if you don’t schedule your massage appointment carefully, now that you’re all loosened up how about a hike to Wallace Falls - too much of a hike? Then let’s head down to the river and walk the labyrinth on the way. We’ll want to be back before Saturday evening mass; don’t you just love how the sermon turns into a women’s bible study, and wasn’t the music just lovely? - I think I'll head to bed... I don’t know about you but I enjoy the hot shower amidst the camping feel; I’m rather tiered so I perhaps I’ll sleep in tomorrow skipping seated yoga and morning prayer.

Women’s weekend is a wonderful getaway that I have attended for the last several years with my mother-in-law Hester, and it saddens me that this will be my last year for the foreseeable future (that whole moving to Arizona thing). My sister-in-law Helena joined us this year, and we had a wonderful time saying up until 1am chatting sleep over style.

The last few years we had snow over MLK weekend; this year we had sunny days with power outages in the evenings… which is one way to end a shower (eek).

None of the women on the retreat wanted their pictures on the blog, and my battery died before I could get some pictures of just the craft work… but the camp is lovely and well work the battery power.

View from Camp Huston Conference Center Main Room

Hike from the upper cabins to the Conference Center

St. John's in the Woods (Camp Huston Chapel)

Max, the Camp Huston Puppy

"That doesn't smell right, what's by my river bed?"

Max finding a wash up light bulb

Where Clay Beach used to be

The walk next to the Labyrinth

Along the bushwacked trail to Wallace River, from the Labyrinth

A rock that makes me think of Ireland

(It took a lot of will power not to take it home, but I left the rock in it's beautiful spot!)

Wallace River

Ivy, growing over dead vines, growing over a dead trunk, behind the Labyrinth

Trail to the Labyrinth (with a melted snow creek)

(Finaly a picture of said) Labyrinth

View from the Center of the Labyrinth

Wallace River, now where the road connecting the upper cabins and lower cabins (along with the basket ball court) used to be. The logs piles are chained in place to help stop further erosion.

The first time I went to Camp Huston I was a baby; my father was the supply priest during one of the retreats. I attended the children’s summer camp on several occasions, including the year my sister was a camp counselor (no, I was not one of her campers); St. Columba's used to hold a parish retreat at Camp Huston, but the program has unfortunately been put on hiatus. When you add Women’s weekend to the mix, this is the eleventh year I have made the trek out to Gold Bar, and I’m going to miss it in the years to come.

This past year was Camp Huston’s 80th anniversary, so I was able to sore an inexpensive T-shirt and History of Huston booklet as mementoes. This is particularly nice as I don’t know the whereabouts of the T-shirts from my childhood camping days.

Where's the wilderness of your childhood?

-Katie

P.S. Small world: Some of the women I met over Women’s Weekend, as children went to Camp Webb in Wisconsin while my father was a counselor there!

Obama

Obama

Second Hand Tuesdays

My wardrobe currently has two major flaws: my work cloths are frumpy (the few that I have) & I am lacking spring and something clothing (I’m moving to Phoenix Arizona and I’m lacking spring and summer clothing?!?!)

Well, we put off the move from January to March for primarily financial reasons so I can’t exactly fix this.... can I?

For those of you who don’t know, Second hand stores have Monday sales to move out their stock. Every Monday all items marked with X colour tag are on liquidation discount: Value Village’s super discount sale is $0.99 while Goodwill sells its items at a whopping $1.29. Add a few regularly marked second hand items and a few trips to Ross and you’ve got a whole new wardrobe on a budget.

My best friend Hillary and I have been working on my clothing for a few weeks, and this is what we have come up with so far:

Pink Lace light Sweater: Value Village $0.99

Green light Sweater: Value Village $0.99

Red Blouse/Sweater cheat: Goodwill$1.29

Denim Skirt: Goodwill$1.29

White Blouse with sewn in Black "Corset": Ross $5

Black Skirt with Violet Pin Stripes: Goodwill $1.29

Maroon Blouse: Ross $5
White Skirt: Goodwill $1.29

Plad Wool Skirt of my dreams: Goodwill $5
Kalib says "What are you doing? Pay attention to me!! Wait - I hate having my picture taken! Ew ew ew!"

White Blouse with Black Belt: Ross $13.00

Red Wool Skirt: Goodwill $1.29

Red medium Sweater: Value Village $0.99

Red Pin Stripe Suit cut as if for me (okay the arms a little long, big deal), with Pants and a Skirt: Value Village $30

I actually have something I can interview in now! Yes I’ve been buying sweaters, but I’m told that Phoenix is over air conditioned, so I’m trying to be prepared for nippy indoor weather (plus it’s friggen cold here in Seattle). I still need some casual warm weather clothing, but all in all my wardrobe is looking up.

And what’s better than getting cloths on the cheap? Getting to wear the second R with pride (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle)!

What’s your favorite second score?

-Katie

wow, I'm spinning...

Vertigo? Really?

I think my neck is the problem so I'm headed back to the Chiropractor... but seriously? now I have Vertigo?

inster expletive deleted here

grrrrr
-Katie

Week One in Katharyn’s Health News:

I saw my Chiropractor for the first time since I became ill in late November. The pelvic adjustment I had at the beginning of November is still holding (suffering from endometriosis pain? Talk to your Chiropractor to make sure your pelvis, hips, and lower back are in alignment – the difference can be like that of night and day). Only my neck and lower back needed to be adjusted; However my back was so out that I am having a mini endometriosis flare following the small adjustment (amusing that it’s always the small adjustment that have the largest impact), but symptoms of the flare are already starting to subside. I’m not surprised that after being sick for over a month, and having my lower body out of alignment for much of that time has my chronic condition is upset.

My Cold subsided and I haven’t gotten sick again, however my chronic sore throat is making an appearance (I talk for a living, this happens about twice a year – at least the sore throat isn’t being caused by another bloody virus). The treatment for my chronic sore throat is to spend my weekend mute… lets look at the calendar here… my vocal cords are booked tell the 7th of February. *Shrug*

I have been using the Neti Pot all week, it’s still an awkward process but I suspect I’ll get the hang of it soon enough. Currently I’m running into the problem of balancing the tilt of my head while leaning my body over the sink, I’m only 5’1 and the sink is not on the edge of the counter! I find the motion much easer standing in the bath tub… but that in its self is a bit of a nuisance.

Due to using the Neti Pot the dark bags under my eyes are more or less gone (a little strange when I was still under the weather as those bags were the only colour on my face, the void of them actually made me look sicker), I’m no longer sneezing at work despite the allergen laden cubical setting, and I’m sleeping better due to the lack of post nasal drip.

With everyone in the house having been ill, we’re currently living in a pigsty, but I have enough energy now that I’m starting to be able to tackle the laundry and cook again. So we’re living in a cleaner healthier environment which is always helpful.

No big changes to the diet yet, I’m trying to take things slow in the hopes that changes made will be maintainable.

As for my nails…



All and all I have more energy, am feeling better, and am slowly being more proactive about my health.

Next weeks focus? Continue working to make the action of the Neti Pot second nature, and observe my sleeping habits (no changes yet, just becoming aware of what I might think about changing to improve my sleep).

To Good Health
Katie

I felt okay for three days

Sore throat why? WHY???

grumble, grumble, expletive deleted, grumble, grumble